News / acorn
Family evicted despite community resistance
A mother and her two young children have been evicted from their home in Easton, despite campaign members attempting to block the eviction.
Bailiffs from a private eviction company arrived at the house shortly after the two children had left for school on Wednesday, knocking down the door to get to the mother, Ruth, who was in her bed at the time.
Community housing union Acorn notified members on Twitter shortly after 9am and a small group of campaign members and neighbours gathered around the front and back of the property.
is needed now More than ever
At least ten bailiffs from the National Eviction Team were at the scene. A dog unit van was also stationed outside and dogs could be heard barking inside the van.
Protesters attempted to block the bailiffs’ entry into the back garden, where Ruth was sitting with other members of Acorn.
Ruth, herself a member of Acorn, said she owns the property and her rights as a disabled person are being breached by the council and the bailiffs.
A dog unit van was parked outside the property – photo: Mia Vines Booth
The eviction comes after Acorn members successfully blocked the eviction of Ruth and her family in December last year, when county court bailiffs attempted to evict Ruth before Christmas.
One member of Acorn told Bristol24/7 that after the previous eviction attempt, they were informed by councillors that Ruth would not be evicted again.
“The last time it happened the council acknowledged it was a mistake and that it should never have happened,” they said.
“But several months down the line, it is happening again. They’ve smashed the door down. They have detained her naked on her bedroom floor, restrained her, dragged her down the stairs, and thrown her out into the back garden completely naked.
“Neighbours have just given her clothes to put on. They have humiliated her and her family.”
Acorn member Ruth faced another eviction attempt in December last year – photo: Betty Woolerton
According to one Acorn member, she has been unable to take her medication.
Ruth told Bristol24/7 she had not received any letters or warning, saying: “As soon as my children have left for school they have come.
“All I felt was my house shaking and banging.
“I’ve got a damaged spinal cord. I suffer chronic persistent pain, I’ve got a disability and I’m a vulnerable adult.”
Acorn members were unable to block the eviction of Ruth and her family. One member told Bristol24/7 that their priority now was to ensure Ruth and her children were taken care of.
“I don’t think there is anything we can do immediately apart from take care of Ruth,” they said.
“We are going to try and work out what’s going on and try and make sure she gets back into her house and her family gets back into her house.”
Bristol City Council has been approached for comment.
Main photo: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
- Huge community turnout prevents family from being evicted
- Acorn protest against ‘uninhabitable’ renting conditions provided by one Bristol letting agent
- Affordable eco-housing to be built on disused garage plots
- Tenants protest council’s ‘whitewashing’ rent commission
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